On behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization, I would like to invite you to work with staff from our office in Rome, Italy on a review of the National Export Certification Program and its application in the field of exports, determine its effectiveness in assuring adequate quality control practices, and study the feasibility of establishing memoranda of understanding between Thailand and other countries for the certification of foods intended for export. The meeting will take place from July 10-27.

It would be advantageous for the Food and Drug Administration to have active participation and leadership in the development of this program. The influence of the United States in the development of these standards helps to assure safe and honestly labeled food products that are imported into and consumed in the United States.

The Food and Agriculture Organization will reimburse to the Food and Drug Administration all costs for travel, lodging, meals, and miscellaneous expenses upon receiving an invoice from your Accounting Office.

None of the funds that will be used to support these travel costs come from any federal grants, or from any contracts with the Department of Health and Human Services or from the regulated industry or trade associations.

We also understand that FDA requires that its employees pay directly for all of their travel costs, and that we will be billed for these costs by FDA after the trip has been completed and the traveler's claim has been submitted to FDA. We further understand FDA's requirements that costs of employee travel accommodations may not be subsidized in any way, and assure that we will comply with that policy.

Any room charges that are arranged for FDA employees by our organization will not be less than the hotel would normally charge to the traveling public, with the sole exception of volume discounts made available to us by the hotel. Our organization will not otherwise arrange for or make any additional payments to the hotel to defray room costs for FDA employees.

I am looking forward to working with you on this very interesting and exciting project.